Culver City Real Property Transfer Tax
0.45% to 4% in brackets · plus Los Angeles County $1.10 per $1,000
Culver City charges its own transfer tax of 0.45% to 4% in brackets on top of the Los Angeles County tax of $1.10 per $1,000, so buyers and sellers pay both. On a $1,000,000 sale the total is $5,600 (0.56% of the price), compared with $1,100 in a city without its own tax.
Culver City transfer tax rates
| Sale price | City tax rate |
|---|---|
| First $1.5 million | $4.50 per $1,000 (0.45%) |
| Part of the price from $1.5 million to $3 million | $15.00 per $1,000 (1.5%) |
| Part of the price from $3 million to $10 million | $30.00 per $1,000 (3%) |
| Part of the price above $10 million | $40.00 per $1,000 (4%) |
| Los Angeles County documentary transfer tax (every sale) | $1.10 per $1,000 (0.11%), on the price minus any loan the buyer assumes |
Culver City's rates are marginal: each rate applies only to the part of the price inside its bracket, like income tax brackets.
The rate is applied to the price itself, without rounding.
Unlike the county tax, Culver City counts any loan or lien the buyer takes over as part of the value.
Marginal rates (Measure RE, from April 1, 2021): 0.45% of the first $1.5 million, 1.5% of the part from $1.5 million to $3 million, 3% from $3 million to $10 million and 4% above. Culver City taxes the full value including any loan the buyer assumes. 100% deed-restricted affordable housing and the first sale of new multifamily housing pay 0.45% on the whole value.
Transfer tax at common sale prices
| Sale price | County tax | City tax | Total | Share of price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $550 | $2,250 | $2,800 | 0.56% |
| $750,000 | $825 | $3,375 | $4,200 | 0.56% |
| $1,000,000 | $1,100 | $4,500 | $5,600 | 0.56% |
| $1,500,000 | $1,650 | $6,750 | $8,400 | 0.56% |
| $2,000,000 | $2,200 | $14,250 | $16,450 | 0.82% |
| $3,000,000 | $3,300 | $29,250 | $32,550 | 1.09% |
| $5,000,000 | $5,500 | $89,250 | $94,750 | 1.9% |
| $10,000,000 | $11,000 | $239,250 | $250,250 | 2.5% |
At $1 million, Culver City ranks tied for #13 of the 27 California cities with their own transfer tax.
Culver City Transfer Tax Calculator
Total transfer tax
Who pays
California law doesn't say whether the buyer or the seller pays a transfer tax; the purchase contract does. By custom sellers usually pay the county tax, and city taxes are often split or follow local practice. It's negotiable, so settle it in the contract, and ask your escrow officer for the exact figure: the tax is calculated and paid when the deed is recorded.
Other cities in Los Angeles County with their own tax
| City | City rate | Total on a $1M sale |
|---|---|---|
| Culver City | 0.45% to 4% in brackets | $5,600 |
| Los Angeles | 0.45% plus Measure ULA tax of 4% to 5.5% on high-value sales | $5,600 |
| Pomona | $2.20 per $1,000 (0.22%) | $3,300 |
| Redondo Beach | $2.20 per $1,000 (0.22%) | $3,300 |
| Santa Monica | 0.3% to 5.6% depending on price | $4,100 |
The rest of Los Angeles County, including unincorporated areas, pays only the county's $1.10 per $1,000 ($1,100 on $1 million).
Transfer tax in all 27 California cities with their own rate →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the transfer tax in Culver City?
Culver City charges 0.45% to 4% in brackets, plus the Los Angeles County tax of $1.10 per $1,000. On a $1 million sale that is $5,600 in total; on $2,000,000 it is $16,450.
Who pays the transfer tax in Culver City?
No state or city law decides who pays. The purchase contract does. By custom the seller usually pays the county tax, and the city tax is often split or follows local practice, so negotiate it and ask your agent or escrow officer what is usual locally.
Do I pay both the Los Angeles County and Culver City transfer taxes?
Yes. Culver City is a charter city with its own tax, so it is added to the county's $1.10 per $1,000. In general-law cities, by contrast, the city's share is credited against the county tax and buyers pay $1.10 per $1,000 in total.
How is the Culver City transfer tax calculated?
Culver City's rates are marginal: each rate applies only to the part of the price inside its bracket, like income tax brackets. The rate is applied to the price itself, without rounding. Unlike the county tax, Culver City counts any loan or lien the buyer takes over as part of the value.
Are any transfers exempt from the Culver City transfer tax?
The county tax applies only to sales, so gifts and transfers for no payment, such as most transfers into your own living trust or between spouses in a divorce, generally owe nothing. Culver City has its own exemption rules, which can differ; ask the city's finance department or your escrow officer before relying on one.
Sources
- Culver City transfer tax source: City of Culver City, Real Property Transfer Tax page and calculation methodology (Wayback 2021-08-19); Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, Documentary Transfer Tax Bulletin (rev. 2026-04-01) lists the same rates.
- California Revenue and Taxation Code 11911 (county documentary transfer tax and the general-law city credit)
Educational estimate only, not tax or legal advice. Transfer taxes have exemptions and special cases this page doesn't cover. The escrow or title company calculates the exact amount at closing.